With artfully scalloped wings and striking bands of deep orange and
ocher with blue flecks, Milbert's Tortoiseshell puts on a showy display in high
mountain meadows. It took several years of searching to get a high quality
photo I'm proud of. This species is shy as butterflies go and often flies
off just as the photographer is getting in position for a shot. Here it's
feeding on an aster flower, a favorite for nectar. With shy
butterflies, it can help to follow one individual and cautiously approach it several
times. Often it will get used to the photographer's presence once it
realizes there's no danger. But approach too closely just once and it may
panic, flying off for good.

The underside of all tortoiseshell species isn't much to look at. It's
mottled brown and closely resembles tree bark, helping it blend in perfectly to
escape predators. These butterflies can live for over a year and the
adults will hibernate over winter. Staying camouflaged during hibernation
is paramount for survival since when cold the butterfly can't fly. They
will typically select a dark, sheltered crack or crevice in rocks or trees for
their winter sleep, close their wings, and hide those lovely colors until the
first warm spring day.